Due to state wildlife laws, the Zoo is NOT permitted to rehabilitate animals from outside the state of Tennessee. Should you find an animal outside the state of Tennessee, please contact the state's Wildlife Department for more information (see below).

Due to possible rabies exposure, the Zoo is NOT allowed to accept raccoons, bats, foxes or skunks. Rabies is a viral disease that is transferred through the saliva of an infected animal. Because of this, the animal does not necessarily have to bite you to transfer the disease. If you find one of these animals we strongly recommend not handling the animal. If the animal has bitten you, contact your local health department immediately.

Please note that Tennessee state law prohibits individuals form keeping wildlife without a permit. If is important to get the animal to a rehabilitator as soon as possible.

The Chattanooga Zoo works with several local rehabilitators. If you find injured, orphaned, or displaced wildlife feel free to contact them directly.

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators:

Songbirds and mammals:

LouAnn Partington 931.393.4835 or 931.841.9781

Birds of prey, songbirds and mammals:

Alix Parks 423.847.5757

Songbirds:

Sherry Teas 423.593.0032

Mammals:

Angela Hensley 615.631.2205

Taylor Berry 423.309.9969

Tish Gailmard 423.886.6224

All mammals, birds and reptiles:

Walden’s Puddle 615.299.9938

So you found an animal...

Is the animal injured?

Use extreme caution when handling injured wildlife, they can be very aggressive and it is recommended to wear leather gloves if the animal needs to be handled. Place the animal in a well-ventilated cardboard box with a towel at the bottom. Keep the box in a dark, quiet place until you can get it to a rehabilitator.

Is the animal just a baby?

If you have to chase the baby animal down to catch it, it is most likely old enough and healthy enough to be on its own.

Although we have the capabilities of raising infant wildlife, there are things their mothers can teach them that we cannot. This is why we try to keep them together whenever possible.

It is a MYTH that an animal's mother will not accept the baby animal once a human has touched it (yes, including birds). If possible, place the animal back in the nest or give the mother time to retrieve her infant.

NEVERgive an infant any type of formula or milk. These animals require specialized diets and can develop fatal problems from being fed the incorrect diet. If needed, you can make a rehydrating solution of 50% Pedialyte and 50% water. Once the infant is warm you can try to give it drops of the solution using a syringe or eyedropper. NEVERtry to force-feed an animal, as this could cause the animal to aspirate and can be fatal.

Birds

Not Fully-Feathered

If the baby is not fully feathered and is not injured try placing it back in the nest if possible. If the nest is too high or has been destroyed you can hang a grass-lined basket or a plastic container (with holes poked in the bottom for drainage in case of rain). It is always best to get the new nest as close to the old one as possible. Watch from a distance for up to 2 hours and if the mother does not return contact a rehabber.

Fully-Feathered

If the baby is fully feathered, has tail feathers and is hopping on the ground, it is a fledgling. You may place the bird back in the nest if it is within reach, but chances are it will hop right back out. This is a very necessary stage at which the young bird learns how to fly, find food and to watch out for predators. The bird's mother can teach them these things much faster than we can, so please do not disturb the bird. Fledglings will be flying within a couple of days, so if you have cats, perhaps they could stay inside for a short time.

Squirrels

Squirrels will often times fall out of their nest. If you find a baby squirrel on the ground do not remove it. Mother squirrels do not abandon their young, so she will most likely retrieve it. If the nest is destroyed, give the mother a chance to move the babies because she will have a second nest built for just such an occasion. If you are concerned for the safety of the squirrel you can put the squirrel in a basket and hang it from the base of the tree in which it fell from. The mother will still retrieve it from the basket. Watch from a distance for 2 hours or until dark, whichever comes first. If the mother does not return, contact a rehabilitator.

Rabbits

Mother cottontails spend less than one hour per day with their babies. They forage during the day and return only at dusk and dawn to feed their young. If you uncover a nest of infants, leave them be and check them again in the morning. If they appear round and plump, the mother has been back to care for them. If you are unsure, contact a rehabber before removing them. If you accidentally destroy the nest, you can always make a new nest at the location of the previous one.

If you find a small rabbit hopping around and it is as big as a tennis ball and is running away from you it does not need your assistance.

Fawns

A doe will leave her fawn alone for up to 8 hours at a time. During that time she is out foraging
for food and allowing her milk to replenish. Because fawns have very little scent, a doe will also stay away
to protect her fawn from predators.
She will return to the fawn several times throughout the day to feed and
clean it, but will then leave right after. If you find a fawn and it does not seem to be injured it is
most likely not orphaned. The best
thing to do is leave it be and allow mom to come back to care for it. If you are unsure if the fawn needs to be rescued, please do not remove the fawn until you have contacted a rehabilitator.

Opossums

Opossums ride on their mothers back or in their pouch until they are about 8 inches long. If you find a small opossum wandering by himself and it's body is more than 8 inches long (not including tail) it is old enough to be on its own. If it is smaller than this, contact a rehabber.

Thank you for helping care for our local wildlife. The Chattanooga Zoo is honored to help with your efforts.